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Hi there, nice to have you visiting! I'm Heidi and this is the blog for Heidi Bears. Here is where I post all the happenings in my work and daily life. Here and there you'll find info on things that have caught my attention as well as the odd tutorial. I hope you enjoy your visits. I love to have feedback, so leave me a comment!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Write about your typical crafting time. When it is that you are likely to craft – alone or in more social environments, when watching TV or whilst taking bus journeys. What items do you like to surround yourself with whilst you twirl your hook like a majorette’s baton or work those needles like a skilled set of samurai swords. Do you always have snacks to hand, or are you a strictly ‘no crumbs near my yarn!’ kind of knitter.

The best way to start today's post is to freely admit that the biggest fear I have is to be bored...Bearing this in mind (and the fact that I am a "do 5 things at once kinda gal"), you can see why I tend to knit/crochet everywheeeerrrreee...

Yes, I am the person that knits in church, waiting in the queue at the grocery store, crochets on the plane, Gautrain, at the kids school concerts, in my car when stuck in a traffic jam...everywhere that doesn't involve a life threatening situation.

However, because time is precious , I don't just knit or crochet...I have to listen to an audiobook (folks, Audible.com....go there! Your life will change...) while knitting. This means that when at home, I tend to spend most of my knitting time in the kitchen table area (you know, we have a perfectly good dining room, but we never eat there...yup, we eat in the kitchen). This is where my computer is s et up (Gerry also has all his techo gadgets set up here...), so it makes for perfect together time as well...we alternate between listening to an audiobook and listening to a conference (medical) talk etc.That's why I have a little shelf with all my odds and ends ... everything I need close at hand...

I also always carry a ready to go bag in my car, so that no matter what happens, I can do something with my hands...I've often been stuck at a place where I didn't expect to be stuck at, and want to go ballistic if I can't do some knitting and crocheting... time wasting is the biggest crime :(

So...in a nutshell, the crazy lady with the knitting bag, yes, the one with the kitchen sink in her car, yes, that's me! Say Hi! when you next run into me :)

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Day six: 2nd April. Something to aspire to.Is there a pattern or skill that you don’t yet feel ready to tackle but which you hope to (or think you can only dream of) tackling in the future, near or distant? Is there a skill or project that makes your mind boggle at the sheer time, dedication and mastery of the craft? Maybe the skill or pattern is one that you don’t even personally want to make but can stand back and admire those that do. Maybe it is something you think you will never be bothered to actually make bu can admire the result of those that have.

Today's post was a lot easier than yesterday...I am so inspired by the wonderful designers and designs out there, that i could loads photos forever... however, here are some of my "wish I have done/will do..."

Firstly ...the holy grail of Fair Isle knitting (which I really enjoy doing), must surely be an Alice Starmore design. I have seen someone refer to this as the journey not the destination...it may well take you a generation to finish one. This design is called Henry VIII. Folks, just look at that detail! Never mind that the yarn used is a two ply!!!!! I mean, really...I don't even know if it would be possible for me to see the stitches towards the end of my life's work on this (nanogenerians do have some eyesight issues...)...Yet...why do I crave to make this ? Of course a simple pullover wouldn't be adequate. I need to make this in a mid calf length coat... I must be mad... (but ambitious! ;) )

Ok, so everybody that has a secret passion for pink, put up your hand...no, be honest now... how gorgeous is this dress? Oohhh...I just wanit, wanit, wanit! The design is a Cynthia Steffe designand you can find a fabulous deconstruct here...

As dresses and tops go, I also love this. It's kinda LOTRish, and I can yet again see myself knitting forever, but heck people, how pretty and flattering it would be...

This is just simply Kaffe...iconic, bright, evergreen... I wish I had the time to knit up a huge blanket in this, in some divine yarn with cashmere in it... Oh, for extra arms...my kingdom for an extra pair of arms!!!!!

My favourite pattern of all time is the African Flower Crocheted Hexagon...it's so easy to make and simply beautiful. I am so inspired by this ...I have tweaked the picture a bit to show off the colours better...Love this...want to make one using these colours....

Friday, April 1, 2011

Embellishments come in all types and forms. Some are more than purely decorative and form a practical function – pretty buttons are as much part of holding a garment together as mere decoration, and some are just there to give a piece an extra ‘something’. Blog about an embellishment, be it a zipper, amigurumi eyes or applique patch which you are either saving to use or have in the past used to decorate a project with. Write about whether you are a very minimalist kind of knitter with classic lines and timeless plain knits or whether you love all the bells and whistles or sticking sewing and otherwise attaching decoration to your pieces.

Ok, so my post today is a bit of a cop out I admit...I have been busy working on a pattern that I intend to release next week, and it is a very labour intensive project, so that took up a whole lot of time....While I was busy with this project, I kept thinking about the prompt for today's installment of Knitting and Crochet Blog Week, and my brain froze, went into hiding, and refused to cooperate ... hence, I have opted for the wild card today ! Instead of discussing embellishments, I have made up a small crocheted rose tutorial that can serve as an embellishment...

I must say, I love crocheting roses...they are so quick and easy and add instant glamour to any knitted or crocheted item....so without further ado...here's the tutorial!

I used a divine sock yarn, and a size 2mm crochet hook.

I have presented the tutorial in a different format, hoping that it will be a bit easier to follow :)

1. Chain 50.2. Skip 3 chain stitches...you will do a dc into the next stitch along.3. Yarn around hook...4. Insert crochet hook into next chain stitch...5. dc completed.6. Chain 1.7. Make two more dc into the same chain space as before.8. Miss one chain stitch...you will crochet into every second chain stitch from now on for this row.9. Into the next chain stitch (arrowed), crochet the following...2dc, ch1, 2dc

10. After step 9, your work should look like this.11. Continue in the same manner, all along the 50 chain stitches.12. Where you see the little bumps along the outer edge of the curling work, you will see the chain stitch between the two sets of dc's sticking out...13. When you get to the end of your chain rope, turn your work around.14. Insert your hook into the chain space between the two sets of dc's ...yarn around hook and draw right through the chain stitch that was on your hook, leaving you with one chain on your hook (slip stitch...)15. Slip stitch completed.16. Chain 3.17. Now make 8 dc into the same space.18. Next crochet 9dc into the following chain space between the 2 sets of dc you made in the previous round. Continue in this manner until the end of the row.

19. You've reached the end of the row.20. Turn your work around. Here you have a choice...you can continue using the same colour yarn, or (as I have done), you can join a new colour yarn (this will add a bit of depth to the edge of the rose). Insert hook into the first set of loops (of the stitch below), and draw through the new colour yarn.21. A close-up.22. Yarn around hook and draw through both stitches on hook. Now you only have one stitch on your hook and it's the new colour yarn.23. Continue making sc into both loops of the stitch below (of dc's from previous row).24. When you have made 9 sc's , you'll get to the space between the scallops of dc. Here you make a dc into the space below FROM THE FIRST ROW , as seen in the photo.25. Continue in this manner all along your work, until you get to the end of the row.26. At the end of the row (you've just ended with the 9th sc of the last scallop), make a dc into the dc below, as seen in the photo.27. Turn work around. You'll have two yarn tails...tie them together.

Tie the yarn tails together, as seen in photos 28 and 29.

Your work will naturally curl on itself. Arrange the spirals in a pleasing rose shape, and using the tails, sew up the bottom of the rose, making sure to catch enough of the base row for the rose to hold it's shape. Cut yarn tails, and enjoy!

Olli Polli The Elephant Pattern

Lollo African Flower Bear Pattern Click to Buy Now

The Hearty Hexagon Crochet Motif Pattern

Hi, I'm Heidi, the creative mind behind Heidi Bears, the blog! I am a happily married mom of two beautiful daughters, and live in an old house with wooden floors, which needs more attention than a newborn...but we love her anyway!
I love creative activities and have probably tried every kind of craft at one time or another :) I feel blessed and thankful for the diversity in my life...